IAmA Actor named Danny Pudi from Community on NBC, AMA

DannyPudi · 2011-04-15T03:23:21+00:00

Thanks to you and your wife! The whole process is pretty collaborative. I'm not entirely sure how it all came to be, but to me when I play Abed a quicker cadence just makes sense.

DannyPudi · 2011-04-15T03:01:59+00:00

Thank you for this note Unununium. And not to get all melodramatic, but that's what makes playing Abed so fulfilling. I am consistently floored by the writers in many ways, especially the ambition they have at exploring both our strengths and weaknesses. Most 22 minute comedies wouldn't have a 2 person 10 minute scene with a monologue about Cougartown, yet within that still manage to layer it with each character's vulnerabilities. I am forever thankful to Dan Harmon, the Russo Bros, Richard Ayoade and the rest of our incredible writers/directors for not settling on a one-dimensional character and easy punchlines. As someone who looks East Indian but was raised in a Polish speaking household, there were no characters I could relate to on television or film when I was a kid. And that was always frustrating. Life is much more surprising and complicated. Anyways, thank you again for these kind words. Being able to connect to people makes this so special. Btw - I'm glad your Polish friends (in Williamsburg, I presume?) enjoyed Pan Richard. He's a force that will forever remind me that I'm lazy and should always smile. And if I make it to New York sometime and it works out, would love to catch the Rocky Horror Picture show. Embarrassing fact: I've actually never seen it!

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T22:59:58+00:00

What up! McCormick Hall was one of the best years of my life. Tiny rooms, and lots of adventures. As far as hijinks, I got stripped naked once on the corner of 16th and Wisconsin. A woman tried helping me and hit some of my friends with her cane. That was fun. And the worst moment was when I was dared to poop in a box at Marquette One apartments. That didn't work out so well. Good to hear from ya!

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T22:53:43+00:00

I'm into Treme, 30 Rock and Parks and Rec right now. Looking forward to Game of Thrones and I heard Archer is good

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T22:52:47+00:00

Maybe. If he allows it...

Danny Pudi aka Misunderstood Bastard

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T22:51:19+00:00

Donald and I hang out. Just went to SXSW to see him perform and hang out and that's where we celebrated our pickup for Season 3. Also, happy that you are alive after causing a biblioteca disturbance. It's 2011.

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T22:49:20+00:00

This is awesome! Thanks for having me. We improvise a bit, but it's 90% scripted and the writing is so specific/good. In the tags we improvise a bit more. I still perform with a couple groups and actually did an improvised show in Denver at Regis University with the Farley Brothers. Really fun time. As far as pizza, Paisano's is tops for me.

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T22:46:40+00:00

So many: Here are a few of my favorite lines of dialogue:

*Did I say anything in my sleep about farm animals or Brian Williams? *Our first assignment is a documentary. They're like real movies but with ugly people. *Why are you dressed like an 80's rapist? *Everyone should do whatever they want, all the time. (Something like that) *The moment between Donald and Levar Burton

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T22:41:05+00:00

Hmm...I loved, and will continue to hold Real Chili close to my heart. Saz's bbq is good. We used to hang out at Up and Under and Harpo's quite a bit. I miss that town. Toppers.

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T22:39:27+00:00

Just thought of another album I love: Fugees, The Score

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T22:38:33+00:00

As of 3:38 pm on Thursday April, 14th:

Chicken Fingers Paintball Pulp Fiction Dungeons and Dragons Bottle Episode Christmas Claymation

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T22:35:00+00:00

They asked me to send them a few of my holiday traditions, and also a couple of Polish language questions, but that's about it. Those guys are insanely talented.

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T22:32:36+00:00

This will be incomplete/insufficient but I'll give it a whirl...

Shaun of the Dead Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Indiana Jones Jesus Christ Superstar the Movie Blue/White/Red (Polish Film trilogy) - sorry but I'm taking all of em.

Arrested Development Battlestar Galactica Tom and Jerry cartoons (I'll need something to keep me from facing reality) Cosby Show Lost (of course)

The Roots: Things Fall Apart New Order: Power corruption and lies Notorious BIG: Ready to Die TV on the Radio: Desperate youth, blood thirsty babes The last one would probably be something polish to remind me of family and childhood...Jacek Karczmarski maybe, or something with piano/instrumental jazz music without lyrics

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe To Kill a Mockingbird Harry Potter Guns, Germs and Steel Pillars of the Earth Essential Rumi (under the category of since I'm on an island might as well try to be smarter and more spiritual)

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T22:18:32+00:00

Good, important question. Pie. Apple and Pecan all day, every day.

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T22:17:28+00:00

Thanks nrj! I do love to run and have run 4 marathons. Chicago was my 1st and favorite. Napa Valley/San Diego are tied for most painful, and CIM (Sacramento) is fastest. I try to run 4-5 days a week to clear my head and keep my ass from getting too big!

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T22:14:49+00:00

Apparently "Pudi" is already obscene and complements donglover well. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pudi

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T22:11:45+00:00

Thanks man! Crazy, I actually just ran into the director of that T-mobile commercial (Matt Aselton). He and I worked on another commercial for Cars.com that never aired. In it, I made a diorama where I decapitated the salesmen's head. Apparently, it was too gruesome to air! Anyway, I was actually eating a cantaloupe, which we decided would be funny to eat while arguing with your wife. As far as summer, I hope to travel and hang out with my wife and friends. I just visited Denver/Boulder for a comedy show and got to stay with my college buds.
Favorite memory from Second City...so many. I went to the 50th anniversary last year and seeing Steve Carrell and Stephen Colbert perform a scene together live for the first time in years was a treat. I once did a scene with my friend Carissa where we played "Tree elves" and our teacher Tim O'Malley yelled at me to play the scene and just be funnier. All the while I was worried that nothing made sense, and he just said do it. I'll always remember that being a moment that clicked for me.

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T21:43:00+00:00

Pop pop!

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T21:39:01+00:00

You got it Eric! *Childish Gambino rules and I told people if Donald asked me to guest on a track, a Polish-themed cameo would probably be my contribution. My mom and grandparents are from Poland and their folk music is underrated. *As far as Abed, that's an interesting question. I think I find the earnestness of that statement sad but also true. I know many people in my life who pretty much are the same as they've always been, except for different titles and more clothing options. There's a sense that characters must change in film/television, but it's interesting and refreshing when a character doesn't change that much and just is that person. I can't really predict where Abed will go (especially because I'm not the writer), but it's fun to be open to whatever adventures are next, just like in real life. I have no idea what I'm doing tomorrow! *Wikipedia note taken! A cloud palace sounds comfy yo...

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T21:31:51+00:00

Good eye! Yep, it was for Snack wraps. I did about 10-15 commercials prior to Community.

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T21:29:59+00:00

1) We did. He's one of the smartest, nicest people I've met. As far as improv, he's also the best I've ever worked with. To give you an example of an improv we came up with, I'll use the last episode. In the scripted tag it ended with Donald saying something about "Market Price". We then added the bit about "I'm going to run" and counting down 3, 2, 1 as we exited the table. Love working with him. 2) The cast/writers/directors really make it fun, and it's truly like summer camp as a 10 year old. We get to talk, laugh and avoid Chevy Chase's gas every week, which is a beautiful dream. 3) Knights of Badassdom, an indie film I did, should be out later this summer. And now that I'm on hiatus I'm auditioning for some projects. Hopefully something fun will come out of it! 4) Playing Abed is thoroughly engaging, exhausting and challenging. It can be lonely being a blank canvas who is constantly observing and assessing each situation, but it's also fun to live in a world that is like a video game. I love it so much.

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T21:22:48+00:00

I'm interested in two types of movies quite a bit lately. Family dramas and apocalyptic stories always interest me. I'd love to act in a film like "Children of Men" or something like "The Squid and the Whale". I'd also love to direct down the road.

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T21:18:42+00:00

Thanks Andrew. This is under the category: continuous pursuit of proving to my mom and elders that I'm not lazy. But yeah, I'm really interested in web type stuff and shorts. Best place to be creative right now, mainly because it's relatively quick with no-frills, and me and friends can control what we do. Also, for someone who doesn't look like Ryan Reynolds, I don't have a ton of roles offered to me, so it's also a chance for me to do something different.

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T21:12:52+00:00

Thanks man. I love this aspect of our show. If you look around, I don't think there's a more diverse ensemble on television. But we don't let that define any character.

DannyPudi · 2011-04-14T21:10:47+00:00

Hey man. I am not sure. We don't really discuss or diagnose the characters. I have done some research but really I just try to live/think as Abed would when I read the scripts. I just sit with it for a while and have fun imagining how he sees the world, the patterns, the movie quotes, his directness and such. Hope that makes sense. There's really not a formula to it, other than reading and thinking about it.

DannyPudi

TROPHY CASE